Electric switch

ABSTRACT

The invention has for its object the reduction of the vulnerability of a rocker switch having a rocker substantially closing the open end of a switch body to ingress of splashes of liquid. This is achieved by providing the actuating member with a shroud which covers the opening in the switch body in all positions of adjustment of the actuating member.

o United States Patent 11 1 1 1 3,742,171 Howe June 26, 1973 [541 ELECTRIC SWITCH 3,651,296 3/1972 Yarbrough 200 167 A 3,654,416 4/1972 Che et a1 200/168 G [751 Inventor: John Arthur Tonemm 2,720,758 10/1955 And e rion ZOO/168 0 England [73] Assignee: TRW Incorporated, Cleveland, Ohio Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. [22] Filed. No 30 1971 Att0rneyPhilip E. Parker, James R. OConnor ct al.

[21] AppL N0.: 203,233

[57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. 200/168 0, 200/67 (3 The invention has for its Object the reduction of the 51 1m. (:1. HOlh 9/18 Vulnerability of a Ocker Switch having a rocker ss Field of Search 200/67 c 167 A Stamially clsing the open end of a Switch body to 206/168 gress of splashes of liquid. This is achieved by providing the actuating member with a shroud which covers the [56] References Cited opening in the switch body in all positions of adjust- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment of the actuating member.

3,536,872 10/1970 Gilardenghi .1 200/67 G 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC SWITCH This invention relates to an electric switch of the kind comprising a hollow body of electrically insulating material having an opening within which a switch actuating member is pivotally mounted. It is usual for-the switch actuating member to substantially close the said opening of the hollow body.

According to the present invention, the switch actuating member is formed with a shroud which completely overlies the edges of the opening in the body in all positions of adjustment of the actuating member, thereby protecting the interior of the switch body against the ingress of liquid falling on the outer surface of the actuating member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shroud takes the form of a continuous depending peripheral flange around the edge of a corresponding rocker member. In such a case, the body of the switch may be provided with a bezel, and be extended beyond the line of the bezel, by a continuous wall which surrounds the opening and whose rim is covered at all times by the flange on the rocker member.

Also according to the invention, the switch actuating member comprises a first actuating portion pivotally mounted in the body, and a second, knob, portion accessible for operation from outside the body and detachably secured to the first portion. This arrangement permits the first part to be preassembled with the body of the switch, the second part being subsequently assembled with the first part by means providing snapping engagement. Such a construction is particularly useful if the switch actuating member is to contain an auxiliary component or components such as indicator lamps, in which case the second portion may be transparent or translucent, and may be appropriately colored.

The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a switch according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

As shown, the switch is of the double pole type and comprises a body 1 formed of resilient or semi-resilient plastics material defining a cavity 2 in which the switch mechanism is housed. Spaced from the open end of the body there is a peripheral flange 3. The open end of the cavity is defined by wall portions 4, 4a, extending axially outwardly of the flange.

A pair of contacts 5 is provided at the base of the body each connected with a terminal tail 6 extending through a slot in the base to the outside of the body.

A second pair of terminal tails is provided each including a portion 7 located outwardly of the body and a portion 8 extending inwardly. These terminals are secured to the base of the body by rivets 9.

The portions 8 serve as posts for supporting an arm 10 of a resilient metal strip each carrying a contact 11 for co-operative engagement with one of the contacts 5. The arml0 of each strip has an integral arcuate shaped bight 12 leading to a short arm 13 which overlies the arm 10 in substantially parallel spaced relation. Only one of the strip contacts is visible in FIG. 1.

The switch actuating member comprises a first part 14 and a second part 15 each formed of synthetic plastics material. The first part 14 comprises a rectangular plate formed with a pair of depending integral projections 16. The part 14 is pivotally mounted by means of lugs 17 projecting laterally of two sides and engaging in apertures in opposed side walls of the body 1 of the switch. A miniature type neon lamp 18 is mounted with a resistor on the part 14 and connected in circuit with a contact 19 extending through the projections 16 so as to make electrical engagement with the short arm 13 of the strip contact.

The second part 15 of the actuating member comprises a base 20 which, as shown, is translucent and from the opposite ends of which depend opposed arms 21. Each end of the base 20 has flange portions 22 extending in a curve outwardly of the base in the general direction of the free ends of the arms 21. Each opposed side edge of the base 20 is formed with a flange portion 23, the lower edges of which are at an obtuse angle to one another. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that the upper edges of the side walls 4a of the body of the switch comprise portions extending at an angle to form a V- shaped recess.

In assembling the switch after the contacts 5, 8, and the spring contacts are assembled'in the cavity, the part 14 of the actuating member with the neon lamp attached is secured by snapping the lugs 17 into the apertures in the walls of the body. The second part of the actuating member is then assembled with the part 14 by snapping engagement of'the free ends of the armsZl with projections on the part 14. Alternatively, the arms 21 could be provided with projections for snapping engagement with means on the part 14.

The second part 15 of the actuating member forms the cover for the open end of the switch and it will be noted that whatever the pivoted position of the cover, depending flanges 22, 23, which are interconnected to form a continuous peripheral flange, overlie or extend over the ends of the walls of the body 1 which define the open end ofthe cavity. Accordingly, any liquid or moisture falling on the outer surface of the cover will bedeflected outwardly and will not enter the cavity. This is important where the switch is to be used in posi tions where moisture is likely to be splashed over the body, for example in domestic washing machines.

It will be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to a double pole switch as by omitting one of the pairs of contacts 5, 8 and one of the strip contacts 10, it will serve as a single pole switch.

The provision of the neon lamp serves as an indication when the switch is in its on position but it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to switches where no illuminated warning is provided.

As shown, a bezel 24 is attached to the flange 3 and provided with pairs of resilient projections each having outwardly and inwardly extending portions 25, 26, designed for snapping engagement in an aperture in a support to secure the switch thereto.

I claim:

1. An electric switch comprising a hollow body of electrically insulating material having an opening within which a switch actuating member is pivotally mounted, said body being provided with a bezel and being substantially extended vertically beyond the plane of the bezel by a continuous wall defining said opening, said actuating member having a continuous, depending peripheral flange forming a shroud, said shroud completely overlying the rim of said wall defining said opening and being disposed perimetrically 3 4 proximate said wall at the rim thereof in all positions of projecting from opposite sides thereof for snapping en- Said actuatmg member relative to 531d y whereby gagement in corresponding recesses within said body,

Said ShmPd protect? h mtenor of the switch ,body and the profile of said continuous wall is such as to from the ingress of liquid splashed on the switch in all Operating positions of Said actuating member 5 guide said lugs into the proximity of said recesses dur- 2. An electric switch according to claim 1 wherein 8 assembly of the Switchsaid actuating member carries a pair of aligned lugs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 742 171 Dated June 6 1973 Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Figure 1, change numeral 7 to 17 On the cover sheet insert [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 30, 1970 Great r t 56714 Signed and sealed this 24th day of December 1974.

Attest: FcCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 (0439) uscoMM-oc 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 869-930 

1. An electric switch comprising a hollow body of electrically insulating material having an opening within which a switch actuating member is pivotally mounted, said body being provided with a bezel and being substantially extended vertically beyond the plane of the bezel by a continuous wall defining said opening, said actuating member having a continuous, depending peripheral flange forming a shroud, said shroud completely overlying the rim of said wall defining said opening and being disposed perimetrically proximate said wall at the rim thereof in all positions of said actuating member relative to said body, whereby said shroud protects the interior of the switch body from the ingress of liquid splashed on the switch in all operating positions of said actuating member.
 2. An electric switch according to claim 1 wherein said actuating member carries a pair of aligned lugs projEcting from opposite sides thereof for snapping engagement in corresponding recesses within said body, and the profile of said continuous wall is such as to guide said lugs into the proximity of said recesses during assembly of the switch. 